Firefly Eatery & Bar

"Mixed Feelings at Firefly Eatery and Bar, Mission Beach" Firefly Eatery and Bar in Mission Beach, San Diego, presented a dining experience that left me with mixed feelings.
On the one hand, the ambiance, especially the outdoor seating, provided a delightful tropical atmosphere, complemented by elegant heat lamps that added both beauty and warmth on a chilly April evening.
The setting near the pool, under thoughtful lighting, along with tasty chips and salsa, set a promising start to our meal. However, the culinary experience and service didn't quite match up to the ambiance.
The food was decent but didn't stand out in terms of flavor.
The fish tacos were somewhat bland, and while the seared salmon was enjoyable, the sweetness of the glaze overpowered the dish.
Additionally, the coconut rice missed its mark on delivering the expected coconut essence.
The highlight of our meal was the lobster mac and cheese, which lived up to expectations.
Unfortunately, the lava cake dessert was a letdown, lacking the molten fudge center one anticipates, feeling more like a dressed-up brownie than a true lava cake. Service-wise, we found it to be on the slower side, with infrequent visits to our table, which detracted from the overall dining experience.
Moreover, the presence of a hidden 5% surcharge, attributed to minimum wage increases for the food service industry, was an unwelcome surprise, especially considering the already high prices. The staff did demonstrate friendliness and were quite accommodating with our seating request, which was appreciated.
Overall, while Firefly Eatery and Bar offers a fantastic atmosphere for a night out, particularly with its outdoor setting, the culinary offerings and service aspects leave room for improvement.
For those seeking a beautiful location with decent food, it might still be worth a visit, but set your expectations accordingly.

Very spontaneous decision to go for a date night here and it was amazing!! Ambiance 10/10 Food 50/10 Service 100/10 Came in like 5m after the were taking the last guest for seating (but we'd called ahead and told them we'd be there) And the bartender was SUPER sweet about it! Accepted all order customizations (grilled chicken instead of breaded for the entree, asparagus instead of fried brussels sprouts, and that too with less oil) Brought out the food really quick - fresh and steamy In perfect order and perfect timing. We didn't have to wait for any course to come out Even came in and asked what dessert would e the would want so he could keep it aside for us since the kitchen was closing..
and then could bring it out in time We celebrated our anniversary there, and the bartender gave us the dessert and drink on the house!! What a great guy! Also very kind with moving the heaters around for us Coconut Shrimp - SO crispy and delicious! Perfect with a big squeeze of lemon juice. Or with that sweet chili sauce.
Shrimp it were not too oily either even through they were fried. Grilled Chicken was perfectly cooked! Very soft and not at all dry on the inside. Asparagus on the side - tender and cooked well on the inside too.
Not stringy or hard even though they were thick pieces. Gorgonzola Mashed potatoes - creamy and delicious! Mushroom Fettuccine - WHAT A BEAUTY! the Sauce was lovely - perfect garlic parmesan sauce with perfectly cooked pasta and mushrooms.
Good portion size too.
Loved it! Cheesecake was creamy and perfect! Didn't even need that blueberry compote on top! Strange Brew cocktail was very nice too! Good volume and generous portion size.
Very refreshing!

So delicious!! Great service, location at the beautiful resort nearby the pool, & the drinks & food were all phenomenal.
Yummy espresso martinis, calamari, flatbreads, & mushroom risotto,.
Mmm! Will return.